Chicago: A City Of Hope.

I can't believe it! I finished my challenge quilt on time!!

I finished on Wednesday, and it was so gloomy out that my pictures were not that great. This challenge was to be entered online, and the judges will only have our pictures and artist statement to go off of when deciding which quilts are used for the show... so I wanted my pictures to be great. I waited until Thursday (the last day for submission!), so I could get some better pictures.

I did indeed get better pics. I'm quite impressed. My friend Judy suggested taking my quilt to the public library to photograph - since the architecture at libraries typically allow for lots of natural light. She was right! My library has huge windows all along the sides, and they're the frosted glass kind, so it's not direct sunlight. Perfect! I walked back to the young adult stacks and laid my quilt on the floor (dark brown carpet - pretty neutral background!) - and I started snapping away. No one even noticed me, and if they would have I'm sure they wouldn't be bothered. 

So there you have it. Take your quilt pics at the library. Pick up a good book while you're at it!

My challenge quilt is titled "Chicago: A City of Hope." It's a really abstracted version of the Chicago map. The quilting is done in the layout of the Chicago El map, and it's bound in (pieced) Chicago flag stripes! 

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I don't specifically have a need for this quilt (other than to enter into the show), so I have listed it for sale (should it be accepted for the quilt show, it will be for sale there). That would be a nice addition to my Quiltcon fund. :) 

For now I'm just glad I got it done. Here's hoping it will hang with the rest of the "Modern in the City Challenge" quilts at the IQF in Chicago! 

Chicago MQG "Modern in the City" Challenge

My guild (and the other local MQG, Naperville Modern Quilt Guild) is having a challenge. The theme chosen is "Modern in the City," and some of the quilts will be chosen to hang in the show at the International Quilt Fest in Schaumberg this summer.

Clearly I would love to have my quilt included... but I'm running out of time! Last week my family was taken unexpectedly by illness (double ear infections on a five year old who wears hearing aids - ouch!!). We also had the unexpected trip back home for a funeral. Funerals are always fairly unexpected, but we had some heads up, Grandpa had been sick for a while.... At least Allie was well enough to travel, and she was so well behaved. I really can't believe how well she handled it all. She was so supportive of Grandma too!

Given the situation, I don't know if I'll be able to finish my challenge quilt. It only has to be 36" square - that's pretty small for a quilt. I have a solid idea though, and I'm going to give it a try. I might not get it completely done, but it's worth a shot.

My quilt will be an abstraction of the Chicago map. It's main focus will be a dense area of free piecing which will be surrounded by more free piecing. The city is dense and unexpected, it's harsh angles and smooth curves. My color palate is cool and blue, a nod to Lake Michigan, with bits of Chicago's aqua blue. The addition of the grey variations are a subliminal mention of the parts of the city we'd rather not think of, the shadows. The poor, the dirt, the smog. It's something I don't immediately associate with Chicago, but that is definitely there. The ultimate feel I am going for with this quilt is one of hope. Hope in the good, hope for the bad, creative growth, and community sharing. 

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Well now I know what to write when I'm asked to "describe your quilt." If only I get it done in time!

I have approximately two days off before this quilt is due. That's a mere 6 hours of piecing. If I can get the quilt top pieced by then then I'll push through to get it quilted too! Here's hoping!!